Sailing to Hawaii

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snowyegret

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Nov 20, 2005
2
Rawson 30 Port Angeles, WA
Hi everyone,
I've been lurking on this board for quite awhile now listening and learning and finally have a question of my own. My husband and I have a 30 foot (well, 29.6') 1964 Columbia Defender in really good shape which we have had the greatest time sailing the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound in Washington for the last 2 years. Now, my husband, a private in the Army, has been transferred to Hawaii and we are here now. Our beloved boat is sitting in dry dock in Washington and we are wondering how to get it here without having to declare bankruptcy in the process.

This brings me to the question I wish to post. Is it possible to have someone sail it here for us? Maybe stay on vacation here with us for awhile and we could buy a plane ticket for them back (if they want to go back). I've heard conflicting stories about whether to sail this boat to Hawaii. I've heard it will make it fine if a good eye is kept on the weather and I've heard it's a coastal boat and shouldn't go to Hawaii. We've only been sailing a couple of years and in coastal waters so I would appreciate some advice from the more learned members here.

Thanks so much

Daniel and Pam
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Snowy, Try this site. http://www.columbia-yachts.com/c-29.html.

Given that this is a Sparkman and Stephens design and a good look at the lines, I would take this boat almost anywhere. You should be able to find a delivery skipper.
 
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snowyegret

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Nov 20, 2005
2
Rawson 30 Port Angeles, WA
That's good news. Is there a board or something where we might find a skipper?
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Check with your harbor master in Port Angeles. That is the best place to start.
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Here is an estimated cost from another delivery company on the east coast.

[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]"What does it cost?[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][SIZE=-1]That depends on the type of vessel, time of year, weather, crew requirements and length of passage. Use $2.00 - 3.00 dollars per mile as an estimate. You are responsible for all vessel expenses and transportation to and from the vessel."[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
I would guessing that your trip would be approx 2500-3000 miles.

It may be cheaper to purchase another boat closer to your destination.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Might be better to find a friend on the Island that has made the trip and fly with him/her back the to mainland and sail back together.
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
The main problem you will have has to do with the size of the boat, and the time of year. This time of year isn't the best for doing such a delivery...but that gives you some time to arrange for a delivery captain. The best time for such a delivery is May-to-June. The trip is about 2400 NM.

The real problem you'll run into is finding a slip for the boat in Hawaii. AFAIK, slips are very expensive and fairly scarce. You'll need to find a slip for your boat prior to its arrival in Hawaii.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I kn ow that the CCA believes that anything under 40 feet on deck is too small for voyaging, the successful crossings by 30 feet loa are so numerous and the failures are so few that I believe that a prudent skipper and an experienced crew can find a good weather window and cross any ocean in a well built vessel.
 
Fairwind

Fairwind

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Feb 1, 2007
113
-Lancer -28 The Sea Of Cortez
An army privates pay must have improved considerably..But just for fun, contact Matson Lines and see what they would charge to ship it as deck cargo..But first, have your marina slip secured. They are scarce in Hawaii...
 
Rick Webb

Rick Webb

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Jun 2, 2004
3,501
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Opportune Lift

If there is space available on a Navy ship there is a program to move your car, boat, whatever on the ship for you. If required you'd be resonsible for the wages of the crane operator to get the boat on or off the ship. Check with the JPPSO at Pearl Harbor (or is it at Hickam now?) to see about the feasability of this for you.

Other options are to rent a boat at Hickam Harbor, Pearl Harbor, or Kaneohe MCAS. The best deal may be to join the Pacific Yacht Club at Hickam the Pearl Harbor Yacht Club at Pearl or there may be one at Kanehoe and maybe even one still one at Iraquois Point. These are all military yacht clubs and will be cheap for you to join. There will be ample oporitunity for you to crew on other folks boats and Hickam has it own fleet of Rhodes 19s for the yacht club members to sail.

I think you'd be way ahead of the game to buy a boat there to sail rather than try to get yours to Hawaii. Unless you can get the Navy to do it for free.

Let me know if you have other questions.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Is this a great site or what? I know that on steel ships they simply weld steel private boats to the deck.
When I was in the Air Force we still had a draft and some of the enlisted men joined the AF to avoid the draft and the army. They were men of independent means but choose to sevre their country rather than seek a deferrment or exemption.
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
If you can't move your boat I'd have to think that someone over there in the Navy has a sailing vessel or perhaps many their disposal and you two could at least catch some rides. I'd also approach some of the yacht clubs. I know that if my dockmaster posted on the WYC board that a serviceman was in Boston looking for a harbor tour that serviceman could have his choice of a half dozen boats at least (during the season of course).
 
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Tim C350 April IV

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Dec 2, 2003
392
Catalina 350 Seattle
One Way Ticket?

I've got no direct experience with sailing to Hawaii, but one of the things I often hear about it is that sailing Washington **to** Hawaii can be fun and very doable, sailing Hawaii (or Mexico/California) *to** Washington can be an ugly, uphill bash. Many sailors race Victoria to Maui, and then pay crews to bring their boats back.

You might also find some information and / or contacts via this local (Washington/Oregon) sailing magazine:
http://www.48north.com/

Good Luck!
Tim Brogan
April IV C350 #68
Seattle
 
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